listen for

phrase

: to pay attention to sounds in order to hear (something expected)

We listened for (the sound of) his footsteps.

We saw lightning and listened for the thunder.

Examples of listen for in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Be in the woods long before first light, and listen for bugling bulls. — Jim Zumbo, Outdoor Life, 10 Sep. 2026

The training covers where drivers should stop, how to look and listen for trains and how to make sure the entire bus can clear the tracks before moving forward. — Brian New, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026

Lead with warmth, listen for balance, and make promises your follow-through can support. — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026

ThayerMahan’s systems use passive acoustic arrays to listen for underwater contacts rather than relying on the target to announce its presence. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for listen for

• albacore
• alongshore
• antiwar
• anymore
• carnivore
• commodore
• dinosaur
• evermore
• furthermore
• guarantor
• herbivore
• heretofore